Outdoors

Tag along with two old friends, Bud Giguere and Kirk Grable, as they pursue an elk on the ranch. Bud and Kirk wrote their stories of the hunt without peeking at each other’s account. The product is a delightful double-tale of a fantastic time on the Flying X.

The Partner’s Elk Hunt

by Bud Giguere

I’ve been hunting on the Flying X for seven or eight years now.  I started hunting as an adult when a friend in Georgia took me turkey hunting about 10 years ago.  I had forgotten how much joy there was in just “Playing in the woods”.   I spent a great deal of my childhood doing just that.  A couple of 12 year-old boys in the ‘60’s could entertain themselves all day just exploring the outdoors without a cell phone, ipod, or any other of today’s “necessities”.

It’s always great to be successful in getting an animal while hunting, but the real enjoyment for me is being out there and taking it all in.  I’ve found that my best memories of hunting are days when I never even squeezed a trigger or let an arrow fly.

I extended an invitation for some friends in Indiana to come visit us in Wyoming.  We agreed that elk season would offer an opportunity to show them some things unique to this area.  I had my vacation scheduled for late October through early November and Kirk blocked five days out of his schedule for him and his wife Lori to come visit.  “Perfect”, I thought... we can get out to the “X” for a few days and maybe, just maybe we’d see one of the big herds of elk.  One of the things I enjoy most about being a partner is sharing our ranch experience with good friends.

By all accounts the recently FXR sponsored hunt for our Wounded Warriors was a resounding success. Two GI's were invited to the Ranch to hunt for antelope. Each of our guests was treated to food, drink, lodging, guide service, game retrieval and preparation. In addition, a small stipend to cover travel costs and license fees was provided and several garments with the FXR logo were given to each of the participants. Donations received from various sources covered all of the associated costs.

Special recognition should be give to partner Steve Kosier. Steve was the catalyst that generated the majority of the donations that in turn insured a first class hunt for our guests.

The FXR provided a steak dinner, masterfully prepared by Ray Parker, on the eve of the hunt. Each of the guests, Josh Black and George Bodnar, accompanied by friend and caregiver Wesley Felice, were introduced. While at the Ranch various partners invited our guests for dinner, several provided lunches and others cooked and served breakfast at the Ranch house. Ammunition was provided by Parker Arms of Wheat Ridge and used to sight in the rifles prior to the hunt. It was no surprise that each of the veterans were excellent shots.

Josh had drawn a buck antelope permit and George had a doe permit donated and transferred to him via a new Wyoming program that allows licenses to be given to disabled veterans. Josh was guided by Gene Titzel and Len Verrelli and Josh was successful in tagging a 14 1/2" buck. A nice shot at approximately 400 yards. George was guided by John Kelly. George shot his doe early on the first day. Both hunters returned to the Ranch and the meat was cut, vacuum packed and ready for the freezer and subsequent transportation.

Stoll Taxidermy of Wheatland gave us a very generous discount off his usual fee and will mount Josh's antelope for him. Mrs. Stoll even provided six loaves of homemade bread for us to use preparing lunches for the hunters.

Both Josh and George gratefully expressed their thanks for our hospitality and the opportunity to participate in a great hunt - a hunt they called "a once in a lifetime opportunity". All-in-all the program was well received and enjoyed not only by the guests but also the participating partners.

It is anticipated that the program will continue and possibly be expanded to include children in the Make-a-Wish program.

-- Gene Titzel

A special thanks to Gene Titzel for his efforts to make this program possible and such a great success. Partners can find more in the October President's report.
-- John Parker

There are many opinions about hunting; some for, some against, and those opinions are usually formed early in life. Sometimes an emotional objection to hunting is based on personal exposure to poor hunting practices or no exposure at all. Gene Titzel has offered up a letter he wrote to his granddaughter in October 2010, where he shares his hunting philosophy and the anticipated enjoyment of spending quality time together.

Dear Megan,

In 2010 the Board members of the Flying X Ranch approved a proposal to sponsor a program designed to honor military veterans wounded in action. The basic idea is to invite the Veterans as guests of the Flying X to participate in an Antelope hunt. As guests they will be provided all the services necessary to insure a successful hunt. They will be guided by volunteer partners, helped with game retrieval and preparing the game for shipment to the Vet’s home. The Wounded Warrior program was coordinated with the Patient Advocate of the Sheridan Veterans Administration and volunteer partners of the Flying X Ranch.

The two vets who are to be our guests have served and were both wounded while in Iraq. Both have had significant combat experience and richly deserve our appreciation for their services to our country. Josh Black is from Morecroft, Wy and Jarik Dudley is from Gillette, WY.

It is planned that they will arrive at the Ranch October 4th, hunt the 5th and 6th. Departure will be a day of two after that depending on the time taken to process the game animals they have harvested.

Anyone interested in volunteering to help ensure a successful visit for our warriors may contact Gene Titzel. Necessary services would include such things as packing a lunch, an invitation to dinner, or guiding services and help with retrieving and processing the game.

- Gene Titzel

At the July 9, 2011 board meeting, the Wildlife Committee recommended a 2-year pilot program to hunt turkeys on the Flying X. The recommendation came after a survey of turkeys on the ranch during the Wyoming spring turkey season and much discussion over the last year between the committee, the FXR Board, and the Wyoming Fish and Game.

Specific requirements and restrictions will be determined by FXR Management, consulting the Wildlife Committee, over the coming weeks, but the program is generally described as follows:

The fish stocking took place on the weekend of May 14 and 15. On Saturday we stocked 900 lbs of brown trout into 5 of the lakes. On Sunday we stocked 2000 lbs. in the 8 lakes. The breakdown is: 500 lbs of Rainbows 16" and larger went in 7 of the lakes, 1250 lbs of rainbows 16" and smaller went into the 8 lakes. The average was 12 - 14". In 2 of the lakes 250 lbs of cutbows were stocked. 125 lbs went in each of the 2 lakes and averaged 14". The cutbows are a cross between rainbows and cutthrout trout. A very good fighting fish and fast grower.

The Wildlife Committee would appreciate your help in discovering and documenting the wild turkeys on the ranch. If you see turkeys on the ranch in the months of April and May, please complete the attached survey and drop off at the office. Surveys are also available with the ranch departure slips.

The fishing in the 2010 season started off with challenges to get the stocking done, but in three stockings we introduced almost 5000 lbs of fish to our lakes (and hopefully to your hooks). To all accounts it was a great year fishing at the Flying X. We also implemented changes to help keep the fishing experience great in years to come. Read the full report here.

In February 2010 the Wyoming State Legislature mandated an effort to prevent the introduction of new mussel species into the state. Lawmakers allocated $1.5 million to the Game and Fish Department to implement a preventative program. Ranch area lakes have been participating in the prevention program. Do we need to worry about the introduction of these non-native species to the ranch lakes?